Classic Game – Fischer – Spassky WCh 1972 – Game 1 – Super-Blooper

A super blooper from RJF!

More super blooper than trouper...

This is the first and already decisive game from the Fischer - Spassky 1972 match.

Despite showing absolute resolve to take out Taimanov, Larsen and Petrosian in the candidates easily (6-0, 6-0, 6.5-2.5 (it was Petrosian)), Fischer quite remarkably lost all composure in a dead level ending to award Spassky this game.

Key Lessons from the Game?

We would like to focus on three particular ideas from this game which are quite instructive:

We all make mistakes

Play good moves, not flashy ones

Make your opponent make the error

We all make mistaks

Fischer is widely regarded as one of the best (if not the best and most original) chess player of his time.

In this game, he miscalculated, showing us that even the very best are not infallible.

It still took good endgame skill from Spassky to exploit it to the full point, as Fischer worked hard to push for a draw.

Play good moves, not flashy ones

After 29. b5, Spassky must have been delighted seeing 29...Bxh2??

29...Ke7 would develop black's worst piece

29...a6 would have created a barrier on b5,c5 which the white king couldn't have crossed and the pawn on a6 would be untouchable from any bishop attentions

29...Bxh2 would have worked had it not been for Bc1 covering e3, yet the devil is in the detail!

Make your opponent make the error

Spassky didn't play anything clever in this game; his strategy was slow and steady improvement, holding his own throughout. It was Bobby's blunder which cost the game!
This put the score at 1-0 to Spassky

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